Maryland Handgun Background Check Backlog 4 - 6 weeks

The salesman at our local gun shop here in Maryland warned my wife that it could be four to six weeks before her background check would come through.

I thought that under Maryland law that if it takes longer than 7 days, the dealer can release the weapon to the buyer.

I think the problem is that under Maryland law, the FFL could release the firearm but that could run them afoul of federal regulations on the subject. Creating a situation where the state avoids civil liability or accusations of violating the 2nd amendment. How convenient. No matter what, we'll never hear about the someone who bought their first home defense pistol but as killed in the home invasion robbery while the state sat on their paperwork.

While I know that there has been huge demand lately, I wonder if this isn't a deliberate attempt to slow down the process. I'm sure it makes life difficult for dealers, our LGS has more bought and paid for guns in the back waiting on the checks than they have for sale.

The salesman at our local gun shop here in Maryland warned my wife that it could be four to six weeks before her background check would come through.

I thought that under Maryland law that if it takes longer than 7 days, the dealer can release the weapon to the buyer.

I think the problem is that under Maryland law, the FFL could release the firearm but that could run them afoul of federal regulations on the subject. Creating a situation where the state avoids civil liability or accusations of violating the 2nd amendment. How convenient. No matter what, we'll never hear about the someone who bought their first home defense pistol but as killed in the home invasion robbery while the state sat on their paperwork.

While I know that there has been huge demand lately, I wonder if this isn't a deliberate attempt to slow down the process. I'm sure it makes life difficult for dealers, our LGS has more bought and paid for guns in the back waiting on the checks than they have for sale.

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I'm no lawyer but as far as I know the law states that you can get the gun after 8 days if you are not denied by the state police. However the FFL can choose to wait longer if they want. I've not heard of a four to six week delay but I'm sure that volume of sales is higher than normal and might be slower than normal.

Federal NICS is done on an approved unless denied basis. NICS has a 3 day window to issue a denial after which the FFL is legally free to transfer the firearm. Unless MD has another law or a waiting period you should not have to wait 2 weeks, there is no federal waiting period.

the funny thing is my wife never wanted a gun but i do a lot of out of town trips and i sent her thought all the training and took her in to buy her first gun on Feb 23rd 2013 and did all the paperwork and was told it would take about 3-4 weeks and here we are 9 weeks later and still NO gun Unbelievable i was told by the bass pro shop that they just received application from feb 5-8th that it may be 3-4 more weeks
Maryland is trying to get the law passed so that all the application they will have to pay for the license money and at this point it would be millions of dollars just by dragging there feet
if i happen to go out of town and something was to happen to my family that could have been stopped by my wife having a weapon on site i will hold the state 100% responsible

the funny thing is my wife never wanted a gun but i do a lot of out of town trips and i sent her thought all the training and took her in to buy her first gun on Feb 23rd 2013 and did all the paperwork and was told it would take about 3-4 weeks and here we are 9 weeks later and still NO gun Unbelievable i was told by the bass pro shop that they just received application from feb 5-8th that it may be 3-4 more weeks
Maryland is trying to get the law passed so that all the application they will have to pay for the license money and at this point it would be millions of dollars just by dragging there feet
if i happen to go out of town and something was to happen to my family that could have been stopped by my wife having a weapon on site i will hold the state 100% responsible

is there anything the can be done to fine out what the delay is ??

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My purchase on 2/23/13 (paperwork submitted on 2/25) received not disapproved paperwork on 4/15/13. I've heard that Bass Pro is a little slow in submitting the paperwork and in calling you when they get it back. They have your money I guess, your best bet is to wait it out.

Purchases made (paperwork submitted) before October 1 are grandfathered, under the new law that has passed. After October 1 you'll need a handgun purchasing license, can't buy magazines over 10 rounds in the state, and most popular semi-automatic rifles are banned.

You might hold the state responsible, but they won't hold themselves responsible, they don't care if your family is harmed, the supreme court has upheld the states right not to protect you.

I just purchased a firearm in MD. They have close to 60,000 applications in backlog right now, and I'm being told that it will likely be 3 1/2 MONTHS before the background check comes back. And no, they do not have to release the firearm after a certain number of days. It's basically tough ****. Another example of MD passing laws that they don't think through, or care about, how it affects people.

Once Obama and the Democrats get their "Universal" back ground checks that will be common. The Liberals will require every transfer to get a BG check. The Government will then reduce the budgets cutting the staff. It will take a year or more to get a firearm cleared for purchase. They will put all purchases on hold.

I just purchased a firearm in MD. They have close to 60,000 applications in backlog right now, and I'm being told that it will likely be 3 1/2 MONTHS before the background check comes back. And no, they do not have to release the firearm after a certain number of days. It's basically tough ****. Another example of MD passing laws that they don't think through, or care about, how it affects people.

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New laws took effect in October. Nothing I said applies now because of the new laws. I have no idea how to buy a gun in MD because no one understands the new law.

The salesman at our local gun shop here in Maryland warned my wife that it could be four to six weeks before her background check would come through.

I thought that under Maryland law that if it takes longer than 7 days, the dealer can release the weapon to the buyer.

I think the problem is that under Maryland law, the FFL could release the firearm but that could run them afoul of federal regulations on the subject. Creating a situation where the state avoids civil liability or accusations of violating the 2nd amendment. How convenient. No matter what, we'll never hear about the someone who bought their first home defense pistol but as killed in the home invasion robbery while the state sat on their paperwork.

While I know that there has been huge demand lately, I wonder if this isn't a deliberate attempt to slow down the process. I'm sure it makes life difficult for dealers, our LGS has more bought and paid for guns in the back waiting on the checks than they have for sale.

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Yes 8th day delivery is permissible. I'm a type 1,7,8 FFL I deliver all arms on the 8th day regardless of MDSP response.

Yes 8th day delivery is permissible. I'm a type 1,7,8 FFL I deliver all arms on the 8th day regardless of MDSP response.

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You should start a thread in this section that explains how to purchase a pistol in Maryland. I've heard sales of regulated firearms have dropped dramatically since October. Partially because of confusion but also because many people moved up purchases they may have otherwise waited on due to the new laws.

Here's what's going on. Guns purchased prior to the 10/1 law changes are taking 4 MONTHS, not 4 weeks. I purchased a gun in the beginning of Sept. and I'm still waiting to pick it up due to the State Police background check backlog. It's really unbelievable.

Now fast forward to today. Backround checks are coming back in less than the 8 day mandatory wait. The paperwork is going to a different processing place than the pre 10/1 applications. I also know this to be true because I just bought my P938 a few weeks ago and I picked it up on the 8th day.

Purchases in MD now require an HQL, a Handgun Qualification License, which I obtained fairly easily. I think it's this requirement that is contributing to the lower handgun sales. Its a new requirement that requires fingerprints, not just paperwork.

What's really crazy is the store where I bought my pre 10/1 gun will not break their policy to release the gun before the paperwork submitted for that firearm comes back. They are allowed to, they just won't. So I'm waiting for paperwork to come back since September, yet I've purchased and received firearms since (and passed separate background checks). It's nuts.

Maybe I need to go up to see uncommonarms in the future, although the waits are gone now.......

Here's what's going on. Guns purchased prior to the 10/1 law changes are taking 4 MONTHS, not 4 weeks. I purchased a gun in the beginning of Sept. and I'm still waiting to pick it up due to the State Police background check backlog. It's really unbelievable.

Now fast forward to today. Backround checks are coming back in less than the 8 day mandatory wait. The paperwork is going to a different processing place than the pre 10/1 applications. I also know this to be true because I just bought my P938 a few weeks ago and I picked it up on the 8th day.

Purchases in MD now require an HQL, a Handgun Qualification License, which I obtained fairly easily. I think it's this requirement that is contributing to the lower handgun sales. Its a new requirement that requires fingerprints, not just paperwork.

What's really crazy is the store where I bought my pre 10/1 gun will not break their policy to release the gun before the paperwork submitted for that firearm comes back. They are allowed to, they just won't. So I'm waiting for paperwork to come back since September, yet I've purchased and received firearms since (and passed separate background checks). It's nuts.

Maybe I need to go up to see uncommonarms in the future, although the waits are gone now.......

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Might be worth it to pay the transfer fee and redo the paperwork if you have the license.

Let me see if I've got this right, you are guaranteed a speedy trial if you commit a crime in MD, but if you need to defend yourself with a sidearm, MD can hold up your purchase for months? Do I have it right?

Let me see if I've got this right, you are guaranteed a speedy trial if you commit a crime in MD, but if you need to defend yourself with a sidearm, MD can hold up your purchase for months? Do I have it right?

PA sounds better & better all the time!

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Like I said, the outrageous waits were a one time thing and no longer. But yea, in general, MD sucks with regards to firearms. PA is much better.

The HQL can be done in 10 days, start to finish. There are a couple of exceptions, such as if you are buying a gun for the first time, and/or if you have not completed a MD safety course in the past. But mine was relatively easy. I went online to complete a form online, pay a $50 fee. Then go to a fingerprint place (a list is provided) and have your prints taken. Once the print check comes back, mine within a week, you take a number from that process and enter it on your form and send it in. You then get your card, which looks like a vertical drivers license. They take and use your picture from your drivers license record. Your card is good for 10 years.